Thursday, December 31, 2015

We are hours away from the new year, but before Christmas slips away, I want to share some great books I read this Christmas season.

I read The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson just after Thanksgiving. It was a great book to get me in the Christmas spirit!

I just finished One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg. I was thrilled that it took me back to Maple Valley, Iowa, the fictional town I grew to love in From the Start. (http://www.bookkisses.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-review-from-start-by-melissa-tagg.html)

This was a sweet, cozy Christmas read. It was very well-developed for an e-novella! I am sooo looking forward to reading more books by Melissa Tagg! You can download this from Amazon for only 99 cents!

You can read my review of The Amish Christmas Sleigh here: http://www.bookkisses.blogspot.com/2015/12/book-review-amish-christmas-sleigh-with.html

I just finished Silent Night Standoff by Susan Sleeman. It is Book One of her First Responders series, published by Love Inspired Suspense. It gets your attention in the first sentence, and keeps it throughout the whole book. If you prefer a story that is suspense-filled and not predictable, this is one for you. I won this book from the author in an online contest, but my comments are my own thoughts. Here's a link to it on Amazon:

Sunday, December 13, 2015

The Amish Christmas Sleigh is a three-novella collection of Amish Christmas stories, which feature a sleigh in celebration of Christmas and newfound love. The three stories were all well-developed, entertaining, and satisfying, in spite of the shortened length. I highly recommend this collection for those who like Amish fiction, or for anyone who wants some cozy Christmas stories.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.

About each novella and its author:

A SLEIGH RIDE ON ICE MOUNTAIN
Kelly Long

For solitary toy-maker Sebastian Christner, hiring Kate Zook as his new housekeeper is simply the right thing to do. Now she can support her special-needs brother. But one taste of her independent spirit is showing him undreamed-of holiday joy—and making him long to give her a home for always . . .
Kelly Long is the author of the acclaimed Amish Patch of Heaven series and has been a finalist for the coveted Carol Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novel Lily’s Wedding Quilt was a 2011 Goodreads Favorite Book of the Year. Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, she’s been married for nearly twenty-five years and has five children. Please visit her at kellylongbooks.com.

A MAMM FOR CHRISTMAS
Amy Lillard
Bernice Yoder has far too much to do to entertain holiday dreams. Even if she can help Jess Schmucker outwit his three mischievous young daughters, it’s impossible to imagine the handsome widower can see her as anything but a scolding schoolteacher. He never guesses how a magical Christmas Eve will open his eyes to love or how Der Herr will awaken their faith and hope.

Amy Lillard won the 2013 Carol Award for her first Amish romance Saving Gideon. She was also a Maggie Awards finalist. Born and bred in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma. Visit her at amywritesromance.com

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Molly Jebber
As much as Charity Lantz’s children need a father, the young widow isn’t sure her new neighbor Luke Fisher can ever be the right choice. They’re having more disagreements than snowflakes in December. Besides, he’s never given a sign he wants to be more than friends. Can Gott show them a way past their misunderstandings to a forever love?

Molly Jebber is an educational, motivational, and Women’s Christian Connection speaker. She was raised in a small town in the Midwest, and insists if you had blinked twice, you would’ve missed it. She loves God, her family and friends, sunshine, swimming and traveling to the Amish communities. Creating historical Amish characters and throwing them into difficult situations and joyous times has been challenging and fun for her. The greatest reward she’s experienced in becoming an author is meeting wonderful people from all over the world who’ve been encouraging and supportive.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

In the third Brides of Seattle book, Abrianna Cunningham and Wade Ackerman have already declared their love for each other. Yet Abrianna has doubts about her adequacy to be a wife, in spite of having been raised in the Madison Bridal School by her aunts.

The Seattle Fire of 1889 has changed much in the city as the residents rebuild. As a businessman, Priam Welby is poised to take advantage of the changes. He is not prepared for Abrianna’s dissolution of their forced relationship, however, and determines to marry her, regardless of her lack of affection for him, and using whatever means necessary to secure the union.

I loved revisiting the endearing characters I had met in the previous book. Each one was essential to the story at one point or another. I did lose patience with Abrianna’s indecision, but as the book progressed, the pace and excitement increased until the fantastic conclusion of the story.

Anyone who has read the previous book in the series, Refining Fire, will definitely want to read this. Romance and historical fiction fans will want to pick this up, as well.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.

About the author:

Tracie Peterson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 100 books. Having given her heart to Jesus at the young age of six, Tracie has always felt called to some form of ministry, and writing fulfills that mission field. Tracie received her first book contract in November, 1992, and saw A Place to Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively for Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the year for three years in a row. In December, 1995, she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers. Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family-especially her three grandchildren-Rainy, Fox, and Max.